11 hours ago
Paul Dehner in the Athletic nails it. Others have promoted Simmons but Strange is new to me.
The Move.
Trade for New England’s Cole Strange.
Strange was a first-round pick in 2022. He’s only 27. The Patriots didn’t pick up his fifth-year option and he’s been running with the second team under new head coach Mike Vrabel. The reason Strange stands out is that his position coach last year is current Bengals offensive line coach Scott Peters. Familiarity with his strike system would fast-track the integration, and at the very least, he could serve as Patrick’s insurance if his season goes sideways. At best, he could arrive, integrate and impress as a change-of-scenery candidate to bring an average level of play to a spot that has been a major problem since Alex Cappa started falling off in 2023.
The Bengals would have to be willing to give up a Day 3 pick, and we know how tough that has been. However, if they could match a Patriots need at linebacker, tight end or another spot that could be a position of relative strength for Cincinnati, it could limit the pick value. Considering the state of the line, the draft pick would be well spent.
The move: Sign free agent Justin Simmons.
Yes, he’s still out there. A name discussed all the way back during free agency in March is still on the market. Simmons played 1,017 snaps for Atlanta last season and was far from the prime version of himself. He turns 32 in November. Signing him likely comes from a belief that he would start ahead of Stone and/or share special teams duties, of which he’s rarely participated in the last five years.
The Move: Sign Trey
Me…I’d send Burton and 6th rounder for Strange
The Move.
Trade for New England’s Cole Strange.
Strange was a first-round pick in 2022. He’s only 27. The Patriots didn’t pick up his fifth-year option and he’s been running with the second team under new head coach Mike Vrabel. The reason Strange stands out is that his position coach last year is current Bengals offensive line coach Scott Peters. Familiarity with his strike system would fast-track the integration, and at the very least, he could serve as Patrick’s insurance if his season goes sideways. At best, he could arrive, integrate and impress as a change-of-scenery candidate to bring an average level of play to a spot that has been a major problem since Alex Cappa started falling off in 2023.
The Bengals would have to be willing to give up a Day 3 pick, and we know how tough that has been. However, if they could match a Patriots need at linebacker, tight end or another spot that could be a position of relative strength for Cincinnati, it could limit the pick value. Considering the state of the line, the draft pick would be well spent.
The move: Sign free agent Justin Simmons.
Yes, he’s still out there. A name discussed all the way back during free agency in March is still on the market. Simmons played 1,017 snaps for Atlanta last season and was far from the prime version of himself. He turns 32 in November. Signing him likely comes from a belief that he would start ahead of Stone and/or share special teams duties, of which he’s rarely participated in the last five years.
The Move: Sign Trey
Me…I’d send Burton and 6th rounder for Strange
Romo “ so impressed with Zac ...1 of the best in the NFL… they are just fundamentally sound. Taylor the best winning % in the Playoffs of current coaches. Joe Burrow” Zac is the best head coach in the NFL & that gives me a lot of confidence." Taylor led the Bengals to their first playoff win since 1990, ending the longest active drought in the four major North American sports, en and appeared in Super Bowl LVI, the first since 1988.
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